The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-01-27
Purchasing Fertilizers.
Atlanta Constitution.

The farmer is often perplexed about what
brand of fertilizers he should purchase. The
names of these have become legion; each manu-
facturer has several different kinds, can furnish
any kind one wants. and has dozens of reasons
why his are better than those of anybody else.
Now let US assure our farming friends that this
is all the sheerest nonsense. A manufacturer
often has from three to six names for the same
article or if they differ at ALL the difference 10
exceedingly trifinR and unworthy of moments
consideration All reputable manufacturers
use about the same proportions.
There are three leading kinds of
fertilzers-aeid phosphates, ammoniated phos-
phatee Tor guanos, as they are usually termed),
and varieties of the above two, containing pot
ash. Phosphoric acid. ammonia and potash are
the three substances in them considered valua-
BILE. Now, il You wish to satisfy yourself of the
truth of the statement made, that all the differ
ent brands are essentially the same thing, look
at the tables of analysis of fertilizers published
yearly by the Department of Agriculture or the
experiment stations of the different States. You
will find that at the South the phosphoric acid
tSvailablel varies from between and 10 to II
per cent, the ammonia from to per cent,
and the potash from to 2 per cent. in guanoa
In acid phosphates the phosphorus acid
varies from 10 to 13 per cent One
fertilizer of the same general class diff
fers from another. therefore, not in
the nature Of it's contents but In the quantities OF
them; one may contain some more of the same
substance than another The point to be looked
after, therefore. is the quantity OF the above
three valuable ingredients any particular brand
may contain This you can find out only from
analysis. Let the manufacturer, or his agent,
present guaranteed analysis Of his goods and
then you can estimate their value in comparison
with others. To illustrate: If farmer can buy
available phosphoric acid at $40 ton,
the phosphorc acid in it costs him
1-3 cents per pound If he could buy On
article containing IA per cent of available phos-
>ho~;o lot TON, he un,,1d ale
just 1-3 cents pound for his piosphorc acid.
Would he make or lose by purchasing the dearer
article? There would be neither loss nor gain,
except in the matter of hauling and handling.
Quantities of each kind which contained equal
amounts of phosphoric acid. would produce
equally good effects on his crops The farmer
would have to use more of the cheaper article,
but more of it would cost him no more than
smaller proportionate quantity of the dearer art
cle AS a rule the dearer article is the cheaper,
because freights on it are less.
Another point about fertilizers Is, perhaps
worthy of the farmers looking into, to-wit: the
source of the ammonia contained in them. If
the substance used to furnish ammonia be cot
ton-seed meal or dried blood, tits all right. tit
be leather scraps, il is another matter How is
the farmer to know the difference2 In general
way by the locality where the fertilizer is man.
ufactured Cotton seed meal is made at the
South; it is handy to the Southern manufact-
urer; the freight on it to his works Is email; the
probabilities he will use it. There is moth
ing better. Acid phosphate and cotton sesd meal
mixed in proper proportions 70 to ~ makes a
first class fertilizer. Fertilizers made near large
| slaughtering establishments are for like reason
| apt to contain blood. Such as are made in the
| vicinity OF large shoe manufactures are more
| liable to contain leather scrap. ANALYSIS, how
ever, ID the main reliance OF the farmer: he
ought to study tables Of analysis until he under-
| stands them fully, and calculate for himself
| the relative value OF different articles. Let him
rely on those rather than the statements of oily
| tongued dealers.